Utility case



Feb. 6, 1945. e. STANLEY v 2,368,687

UTILITY CASE Filed Aug. 4, 1942 A INVENTOR1 BY \'n my. Kw q 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UTILITY CASE LeopoldG. Stanley, Maplewood, N. J.Application August 4, 1942, Serial No. 453,500

3 Claims.

This invention is a novel utility case, composed of leather, canvas orsimilar limp sheet material and of the class adapted to accommodate anunfitted collection or loose kit of small articles or appliances. orsmall size and employed to hold coins, tokens and flat metal or similarcontents. As another example, the case may be used to containtoiletarticles, brushes, combs, tubes, cutters, etc. or

other kinds .of kits may be accommodated, in

loose and random manner, as distinguished from the fitted type of case.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a utility casewhich will be of great convenience of operation in the fields mentioned.

A further object is to provide a case which is simple and inexpensive instructure and yet rugged and durable. A' particular object is to providea utility case Which may be pened and closed by folding endwise. and isformed with a storage section at one end, for the articles, and adisplay section at the other end, between which sections the articlesmay beslid, without danger of spilling, the case nevertheless being ofsuch simple and limp structure that when'closed it is exceedingly flat,occupying substantially no more space than that of the accommodatedarticles.

Other advantages of the inventionwill appear from the followingdescription of illustrative'examples thereof. To the attainment of suchadvantages the invention consistsin the novel utility case and the novelfeatures. of construction, arrangement and operation herein illustratedor described. 7

In the accompanying drawing Fig.- l is a face View of the outer or underlayer or closed component of the utility case. Fig. 2 is a similar viewof the inner or upper layer or apertured member} Fig. 3 similarly showsthe complete case, suitable f-or coins, the two layers being stitchedtogether and providing the storage half at the left and the display ortray half at the right. Fig. 4 similarly shows the closed condition ofthe case, the articles having been slid back into the storage end, andthe right end bent over and secured by a fastener. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal cross section view of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 a similar sectionof Fig. 4.

'Fig. 7 in a perspective view shows a larger design suitable as atraveling case, on the same principles, with brushes, cans, etc., sliddown into view. Fig. 8 is the same as Fig. 7 but with the goods slidback and roughly arranged within the storage half, ready for closing.Fig. 9 shows As one example, the case may be the case of Fig. 8 afterbeing closed and the corners-of the storage half tucked in under theendrim of thedisplay half, conveniently holding the case closed,"without the need of fasteners. 1

Fig. 10 is a back view showing the manner in which the case of Figs. 7to 9 may be provided with shoulder straps.

The invention may be outlined specifically as a utility case of theclass already referred to, which is composed of outer and inner flatlayers of theleather or limp material, of generally oblong outline andperipherally united with each other entirely around such outline; thetwo layers being substantially uninterrupted excepting that the displayzone of the inner. layer is formed with an access aperture or openwindow slightly smaller than the fullsize ofthe zone, thereby providinga loose narrow marginal strip instanding flatly from the peripheryaround the end and both sides of the zone and continuous with thematerial of the mar-gin of the inner layer at the other or storage zone;whereby thetoilet or other kit articles may be disposed in thestorage'section and the flattened display section folded over endwiselyto close thecase, Whereas, when the case is open the articles may beslid through between the layers, as by tilting the case, from thestorage to the displaysection, while the marginal strip of the latterflexes upwardly as the goods slide through thereby to constitute an edgerim suflicient to protect .the exposed articles against spilling fromthecase.

- Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows the outer or under layer I I,the hinge line 12 of which is indicated, dividing the layer into aleft-hand or storage zone l3 and a right hand or display zone I4.

Similarly in Fig. 2 is shown the inner layer l6, as a separate piece ofmaterial, although this could, if desired, be integral with the outerlayer ll, united therewith along either the short ends thereof or thelongsides thereof. Fig. 2 indicates also the hinge line I! of the innerlayer 16, dividing it into the closed or left half or zone l8 and theright hand zon IS, the latter formed with a large access aperture 20,which maybe a quadrilateral cut-away area, slightly smaller than thefull size of this zone. This aperture or open window 20 is so formed andlocated as to leave a continuous, narrow and loose marginal stripinstanding from the periphery, comprising an end strip portion 2| andthe opposite side strip portions 22, this entire strip being continuouswith gtion, :longitudinal sections; Figs. 3, number of loose articles orcoins C in one or. the

ticles are in the storage section,

Ifolded over endwisely to close'th case. the coins are moved into thedisplay section, by 1 tilting, the strip opening by a tab 23 formed onthe end strip por- 1 tion. This tab may be lifted, by hand, when tilt- 3in Figs. 4 and 6. two layers H and 3 ginal strip provides an edge rim,so acts somewhat as a tray, j danger of spilling.

other of the sections of the case.

By this described arrangement, when the aras in Figs. 4 and and flat,may be When 6, the display section, new empty or rim 2|, 22 may beassisted in the side strip portions 22 need since the coins slidingthrough ing the case; but no manipulation,

; tend naturally to move partly beneath the side 1 rim portions. 1 26may be. applied to the display zone of the layer" and fastener socketand stud outer the storage zone of the inner layer,

A snap respectively, thereby l 6 are united peripherally with each otheraround the entire outline, a line of stitches 28 being shown for thispurpose. When the articles are slid into the display zone, the slightupward flexing of the normally flat marthe rim minimizing the Figs. 7 to9 show vas case to c'ontain'kit objects 0 larger and thicker than coins,as toilet accessories. The pair of coextensive oblong layers H and I6 isunited around the periphery. The case is foldable end- 1 Both layers areuninterrupted layer has the aperture 23 area at one endwise wise toclose it. except that the inner over the major part of its section,constituting it the from the periphery.

In this larger mbodiment, of canvas relatively more limp than leather,the manner of securing it closed may be as shown in Fig. 9. The cornerportions of the closed case, at the storage-end, are simply tuckedinwardly and under the meeting strip portions 2 I, 22. To providestiffness and a better finish a narrow leather strip 3| may be stitchedat this point tothe margin 2!. For a to fasten closed the case as Fig; 6and. others show how the I that the zone.

on the "same principles a candisplay section; and this layer has,surrounding the aperture, the marj ginal strips 2|, 22 extendingflexibly inwardly walking case or ladys street bag the display end M ofthe outer layer or wall ll may have straps 33 stitched to it, forsupport from the shoulder or the sheet material,

waist. The storage section may have a transparent window. In anyinstance the case is readily opened, selection of contents made, andcase closed, with security of contents.

What is claimed'is:

1. A utility case of limp sheet material adapted to accommodate anunfitted collection or loose kit of small articles or appliances, of thekind having a storage section at one endwise half and a display sectionat the other half of the case; said case being composed of outer andinner flat layers .of generally oblong outlin and the two peripherallystitched to each other around such outline, and the display section ofthe inner layer being formed with an open access window slightly smallerthan the section, thereby providing a loose narrow marginal stripinstanding from the periphery around the end and both sides ofthedisplay section and continuous with the margin of the inner layer atthe storage section, and a stifiening element applied along the endmarginal strip adjacent said open access window-and the said storagesection, by the. limp character of being adapted to be crowdedand tuckedthrough the access window, within the display section and under the endmargin thereof,

thereby to hold the case closed. I

2. A utility case as in claim 1 and wherein-is a limp, flexible carryingstrap having its ends ;se-

cured to the outer layer of limp sheet material.

3. A utility case of limp 'sheetmaterial adapted to accommodate anunfitted collection or loose kit of small articles or appliances, of thekind having a storage section at one endwise'half and a display sectionat the other half of the case; said case being composed of outer andinner flat layers of generally oblong outline, each being formedofasingle piece and integral for the two being peripherally 'united aroundsuch outline, and the displaysection having its inner layer formed withan open access window slightly smaller than the section, therebyproviding a loose narrow marginal strip instanding from the peripheryaround the end andboth sides of, the

display section and-continuous withthe margin of the inner layer at thestorage section, and-hav ing a stiffening means along the end marginalstrip adjacent said open access window; and the said storage section, bythe limp characterof the sheet material, being. adapted to be crowdedand. tucked through the access window, within the display section andunder the end margin thereof therebyto hold the, case closed.

. 'LEOPOLD G. STANLEY.

its full length, and-

